Villa Silin

Villa Silin sits on the shore a few kilometres west of Leptis Magna, a Roman seaside house of the second century excavated in the 1970s and left with its floors in place: mosaic pavements including hunting and marine scenes, coloured marble panelling on the walls, a bath suite and a courtyard opening towards the sea. It is one of the better preserved private houses of its kind anywhere in North Africa. The villa was one of several along this stretch of shore, built by families whose money came from the olive oil trade that Leptis Magna shipped out.

What you actually see

• The mosaic floors - hunting and marine pavements left in place.
• The marble panelling - coloured stone still fixed to the walls.
• The bath suite - the private baths within the house.
• The sea frontage - the courtyard opening towards the shore.

When to go

March to May and October to November are the comfortable months. The site keeps daytime hours and closures are common. Summer on the coast is hot.

Honest expectations

Opening is unreliable and the site has been closed for extended periods. Mosaics are exposed and deteriorating. Travel in Libya requires arrangements through a licensed operator.

Nearby

Leptis Magna is east, and Tripoli is west.